Live Review: CHVRCHES - O2 Academy Birmingham
CHVRCHES
O2 ACADEMY
BIRMINGHAM
[18/03/2022]
Celebrating a decade since their debut single, Scottish synthpop stars CHVRCHES cement their position as one of the best live acts in the world
★★★★★
It’s been a decade since Scottish synthpop trio CHVRCHES, made up of Lauren Mayberry, Iain Cook and Martin Doherty, took the internet and music blogs by storm with their debut single ‘Lies’. It gained them a devout fanbase and over the years their cult-like popularity has widened, resulting in four Top 10 albums and multiple sold-out tours across the world.
On Friday night, the group continued their sold-out UK tour at Birmingham’s O2 Academy. The tour is in celebration of their critically acclaimed fourth album ‘Screen Violence’. It speaks to the horror film influenced record’s immense quality, that all of the tracks performed tonight from the record, not only slip into the setlist effortlessly alongside fluorescent fan-favourite hits such as ‘Forever’ and ‘Leave A Trace’, but they make for some of the evening’s most thrilling moments.
‘Screen Violence’ plays a key part in the opening segment of the show. The packed-in audience was bathed in a red glow as the group launched into the stabbing synths of ‘He Said She Said’ in which lead singer Mayberry laments the diatribe dictated to her by men throughout her life. Whilst early on the audience are treated to a terrific rendition of ‘Violent Delights’, the track transforming into a thunderous power ballad on the stage. ‘California’ meanwhile glistens in all its cinematic glory, and the masterful macabre melancholy of ‘How Not to Drown’ more than justifies its recent crowning as ‘Best Song in the World’ at this year's NME Awards.
Unlike then, and at Brixton a few nights ago there was no appearance from The Cure’s Robert Smith but he did get a loving shoutout from Mayberry as she declared the group were still on the second day of the ‘most brutal hangover of their lives because when ‘Rob’ says you’re going to the pub to celebrate… you’re going to the pub.
Despite the admission that they still hadn’t recovered, it couldn’t be noticed in their perfectly polished performance. As someone who’s seen the group perform during each album cycle over the past ten years, it was a notable reminder of how far the trio has come. It’s joyous to see their evolution over the years, their live show is stellar, and all three have grown in confidence on stage without losing any of that early charm. One of the most hardworking bands on the planet, throughout their career they’ve toured relentlessly and that is reflected in the way Mayberry now effortlessly dominates the stage. It’s rare to think of a moment she is stood still, she frequently spins across the stage, at one moment in the evening she raises the mic-stand above her head triumphantly to a roar of approval from the audience.
Both Cook and Doherty make frequent appearances from behind their synths to wield electric guitars like triumphant rock gods. Meanwhile, the continued inclusion of Jonny Scott on live drums since their last record has allowed the group to flesh out their sound on stage. It means percussion and synths on tracks such as ‘Bury It’, ‘Miracle’ and ‘Never Say Die’ slam the floor like sledgehammers, the crisp groove reverberating throughout your bones, resulting in a frequent flail of arms and a bouncing euphoric crowd.
Over the years lead singer Lauren Mayberry has always had a penchant for unique, and brilliant costumes that reflect the nature of the records, tonight she makes the most of three long outros to change into various guises. Her opening blood-red outfit channels the pop legends of the eighties with larger than life shoulder pads. She concludes the set wearing a shirt emblazoned with ‘Final Girl’ ; an ode to the horror trope and their song of the same name.
Lauren Mayberry frequently changed into various outfits throughout the evening - Photo Credit: The Perfect Tempo
After four records, the group have fine-tuned their setlist to perfection. With such a vast and much-loved discography to select from, it’s undoubtedly a challenge to please everyone, however over the course of a cohesive 90-minute performance the trio have nailed it whilst also managing to appeal to long-term fans of the group. ‘Science/Visions’ and ‘Night Sky’ for instance are inspired deep cuts from the first record that make unexpected but delightful inclusions.
The evening's encore is perhaps one of the strongest three song closing suites in existence. Any other band would be desperate to have such a finale in their arsenal. The trio is armed with a selection of timeless synthpop slammers that are all centred around a rising tempo that builds up to an incredible and euphoric release of emotions.
‘Asking For A Friend’ starts to ramp up the feverish excitement. The opening track from their latest record already feels as if it's destined to be an instant live staple with its ‘you still matter’ refrain reverberating across the venue. ‘The Mother We Share’ still evokes the same emotions of bliss and joy, sending crowds into a state of ecstasy as it did the first time they performed it, nearly 10 years ago. It’s closer ‘Clearest Blue’ however that has the most noticeable impact on the wild crowd, a track with such power that when performed live can create hysteria in even the muddiest of Glastonbury bogs, and it has a similar effect here. When the cascading beat explodes into life halfway through the audience are in rapture. Groups of friends bouncing in huddles, couples perched on shoulders and to my right, there's a man dancing and throwing punches at his shadow behind a pillar, a loss of control in its purest sense.
It's also the perfect way to encapsulate the CHVRCHES live show in 2022. The trio that once shied away from the spotlight, submerging both themselves and their synths in the shadows are now confident commanders of their stage, orchestrating every ebb and flow of the evening, and whilst crowd patter is kept to a minimum, the evening’s energy never dips. It’s a precise, polished and perfect showcase of the trios refined and mastered synthpop sound. It’s also cemented just why CHVRCHES are the best live band on the planet right now.
Setlist
He Said She Said
Forever
Leave a Trace
California
How Not to Drown
Violent Delights
Science/Visions
Good Girls
Bury It
Miracle
Night Sky
Final Girl
Recover
Never Say Die
Encore:
Asking for a Friend
The Mother We Share
Clearest Blue
